title: Four novel antimicrobial peptides derived from human C8α-MACPF.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides are active against a diverse spectrum of microorganisms. Using a bioinformatics method, six potential novel antimicrobial peptides, A1, C1, A2, A3, C2 and A4, were identified in the C8α complement component. The corresponding genes were then cloned into a new vector as fusions with the self-cleavage protein N(pro) protein mutant EDDIE gene. The expressed or synthetic peptides, A1, A2, A3 and A4, showed antimicrobial activities against several bacteria, while peptides C1 and C2 did not. Peptides A1 to A4 showed no hemolytic activities over 3 h when at 500 μg/ml. Thus, A1, A2, A3 and A4, derived from the C8α complement system, are novel antimicrobial peptides.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Peihong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D003185:Complement C8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D003185:Complement C8; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins